Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #661 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-04-20
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Synopsis
Combining Western-style car chases and Hong Kong-inspired fight sequences choreographed by martial arts legend Cory Yuen, the Luc Besson-created TRANSPORTER films have found international success as a sort of working-class James Bond series. Jason Statham, who has become the go-to guy for big-budget B-movie thrills, returns once again as Frank Martin, the driver-for-hire for whom no job is too risky. Brimming with the usual jaw-dropping stunts, this is another crowd-pleasing entry in the saga, delivered at a brisk and flashy clip by director Olivier Megaton. Following the coercion of Ukrainian environmental official Leonid Vasilev (Jeroen Krabbe) into signing papers permitting the shipping of toxic materials into a harbour by criminal mastermind Johnson (Robert Knepper), Frank Martin is forced into accepting the job of driving Vasilev's kidnapped daughter, Valentina (Natalya Rudakova)--acting as human collateral--from Marseilles to the Black Sea coastal city of Odessa. On the chance the Martin should attempt to flee, Johnson has rigged him with a bracelet that will detonate if he strays more than 75 feet from his car. When Valentina is intercepted by a rival group, Martin will have to push his Audi M8 to the limit to complete his mission and ensure his own survival.


The TRANSPORTER films require copious amounts of suspension of disbelief, but then again, one doesn't hope they will strictly adhere to the laws of physics. The third volume provides ample thrills, not the least of which is the sight of a car driving off a bridge onto a moving train. Plenty of screen time is also given to Statham's superhumanly chiselled torso, while freckled Rudakova's unconventional beauty balances out the sex appeal. In the end, Statham's undeniable likeability propels the film, and his chemistry in a handful of scenes with François Berleand, returning as Inspector Tarconi, provides some nice comic moments.

Customer Reviews

Transporter 3: Flexible Abs!
In the first Transporter movie Jason Statham kicked six bad guys in the head whilst standing on bicycle pedals to avoid slipping on an oil-slick that had been disgorged around him, before chasing a light aircraft through 3 fields, and then skydiving from a another light aircraft onto the back of a moving articulated lorry. In the second movie he used a wooden door to shield himself from machine gun fire, vaulted through a window onto a conveniently waiting Jet-Ski, lifted the delighted female occupant over his shoulder before giving chase to a bunch of henchman in a van. He then jumped the Jet-Ski from the water through the back of the van before dismounting and punching the bad guys lights out! These thoroughly entertaining though completely ridiculous action sequences have been the series' trademark. And given the style in which this new movie has been marketed you could be forgiven for thinking that you will be getting exactly the same thing with this new instalment.

Surprisingly however, this is actually not the case. And while you're still presented with the requisite scenes of a bunch of thugs surrounding Frank Martin (Statham) and waiting patiently in turn to be booted in the face, there is a genuine attempt here to make an engaging action drama. Drama! Of all things!!

You could still write the plot on the back of a postage stamp: Frank Martin is forced to drive a package from one grid reference to another, disallowed from deviating from his course, opening the package or straying further than 50 feet from the vehicle. If he does, an explosive stashed in his car triggered by a signal from a wrist clamp will vapourize the vehicle and everything inside it. He is further burdened by the addition of a passenger (Ukrainian Babe Natalya Rudakova) as Valentina, the daughter of an East European Environmental Secretary working for the UN. The Diplomat, played by Jeroen Krabbe is being blackmailed by a Toxic Waste Transportation company to allow them to use certain shipping lanes. A selection of Eastern European criminal bastards are employed by the Toxic Waste Company to apply the thumb-screws and do their evil bidding!

The improvement in quality seems mainly due to the replacement of Director from Louis Letterier (having graduated to the direction of The Incredible Hulk) to newcomer director Oliver Megaton. Its also seems likely that Jason Statham's own decision to return may have been based on a desire to ditch the frenetic stupidity and make a decent movie. Oliver Megaton even contributes to the franchise's best moment, as Frank, having been thrown out of his car, desperately tries to remain within 50 feet by stealing a kid's BMX, thrashing it through the middle of a warehouse sweatshop, crashing it through the window, performing a flying kick through the passenger side window and kicking the thief out the other side - all to the tune of Iggy Pop's `Now I Wanna Be Your Dog'!

The fight scenes are also choreographed in a more realistic fashion, seeming more gritty and shot up-close-and-personal. Good support is provided by franchise regular Francois Berleand as French Inspector Tarconi, and Robert Knepper puts in a decent performance as the movie's snarling villain. There are a few plot discrepancies however that keep this picture rated at only 3 stars: the very obvious plot twist that it is Valentina that is the package and not the items placed in the boot of the car. And just exactly why Jason Statham has to drive all the way to Bucharest in unclear? Other than to show-off his new Audi's 0-60 and snog his new girlfriend in some slightly dull Mid-European Countryside.
The finale of the picture is suitably action-packed and ridiculous but it is very enjoyable, including a fine piece of Audi/moving train interfacing! Oliver Megaton does a very good job considering this is `Transporter 3' and shows genuine potential as to the movies he may make in future. Trust me; based on this evidence, the guy could direct Bond.

Another aspect of this picture that you notice is the running time: at 104 minutes it dwarves the 80 minutes of the first movie, and the 79 minutes of Transporter 2 - another sign that the franchise may be growing up a bit. From the DVD you can expect a brief `making-of' featurette, deleted scenes, possibly a commentary and very likely a car advert for that gorgeous new Audi. At the end of this movie you will also fancy bagging yourself a Ukrainian girlfriend of your own! Natalya Rudakova is a total cutie! And the fact that this is a good movie is also strangely uplifting!

Full of suspense
As a fan of action movies, suspension of disbelief is a prerequisite. Unbelievable scenes sometimes make great movies - e.g. Crouching Tiger .., the Bourne movies ..
There is ample opportunity for disbelief in this movie - but it makes for great viewing and stimulates the imagination, and of course the main character has the likeability factor. Would have liked to see a bit more action - and not only action scenes with scores of guys coming at him.
The movie maintains a good pace and you are continuously left hanging in suspense, awaiting the next moment of impending danger.
Still, nowhere near as good as Transporter 1, but better than 2.
Glad I watched it - provided 90 minutes or so of good entertainment.

Transporter 3
This film is all action. Jason doing what he does best a must if you like the other 2 Transporter films.Take no notice of the bad reviews i was hooked from start to finish.